River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-04-07

Crossing a gully his quick eve dis
cerned mark on the other side. 1t
was a childs footprint in the snow.
He followed it up and found chain of
such prints. But all around, interscct-
ing it lin 1places. were the tracks of
prairie wolves.
just then the ground shook as the
band of mounted herders swept past.
Jack alone refined up beside him. His
face showed he had been drinking.
Don't you wish you hadn't lost
your chance of catching Old Abel he
sneered.
I've as good a chance as you have,
but I've some thing better to do" the
boy returned, tracing the tracks as he
spoke. Jack looked at him moment:
then, seeing how TAR the others were
ahead. spurrcd his bronco into joining
them.
Left to himself Jim moved along,
watching the ground with intense
interest. Last night she was alive,
then, and he might still find her. The
light snow. however, rapidly disappear
ing. gave him no further aid.
Startled By the well-knOwn rush of
hOofs and clamor of voices he hurried
his pony to a point whence he could
see the chase. Straight onward flies
the Infatuated steer, holly pursued by
the herders. The mighty head is
lowered, the fierce eyes haggard, and
the muscles tense with exertion. 1t is
easy TO see that he is near his end; easy
to know. also, that his last struggle
will be desperate one.
Lifting his head, Old Abe glared
around him; then lowering his horns.
made a sudden sweep to the right at an
object not twenty yardys away. Good
heavens. 1t was the light dress and
yellow hair of little Kitty Nichols. 4
general shout rose. More than one
revolver was drawn, but the shot
was held for fear Of hitting the wrong
mark.
Jake had the only chance, and he was
equal to the emergency. He swung
his rawhide lasso, the loop flew out.
settled over those cruel white horns,
and the watchers drew breath of re-
lief. The child, whe, unable to fly,
had fallen into half kneeling position.
rose little, as if in hope; when sudden
~ Jake caught sight of Jim Rowell.
With n demoniac yell he cut and flung
the rope from the saddle before it had
been stretched.
There it is Take it, he shouted.
bursting into laughter.
1t was a pretty rough crowd, and not
one in it but wished ut that moment
that Jake's moose was around his own
neck
Jim's honest, hot blood, chilled an
instant before, leaped with Indignation.
and all his frontier learning came to his
assistance. He dashed after the trail
ing rope. threw himself down and
caught it from the ground, rightiug
himself in the saddle before the strain
came. and Just as Al Thompson we'll
directed shot laid the brindle savage at
the very fee of trembling Kitty.
They found her weak and chilled. but
still safe and well.
Jimmie was quite hero for few
days. his strained arms and torn hands
bearing witness 10 his adventure: but
Az iitttA eNAA9t NHOiEh ~ tlNNOAh ~
Thompson a fair share of the praise.
His old enemy left that part of the
country; probably he had his own rea-
sons, bhr people laid the credit of his
absence to that days occurrences.
Wasn't my little girl afraid when
the wolves came around her at night?'
kitty's happy mother asked her.
No, the child answered. You
told me if prayed to God He wouldn't
let anything hurt me, and you see He
didn' with satisfied turn of the
tiaNen head. But" she continued,
rehectively. Il was afraid when that
steer was coming for me. All the men
and horses made so much noise /
thought God mightn't hear me soon
enough. - Orer and Monthly,